Angels hunting for someone to fill Torii's shoes

TEMPE, Ariz. – For the past five seasons, when the mood in the Angels clubhouse needed to be lightened, there was Torii Hunter.

When a young player needed some guidance, there was Torii Hunter.

When something needed to be said to the group, there was Torii Hunter.

Now that the Angels cut ties with Hunter and he signed with the Detroit Tigers, one of the evolving stories during spring training is how the team can replace what Hunter brought to the clubhouse.

"I don't think anybody can fill those shoes," Jered Weaver said. "There are not too many people in the league like Torii Hunter. He's bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. He comes in with a great mindset."

Weaver strained to remember the last time he was in an Angels clubhouse without Hunter, back in 2007: "We had guys like Garret Anderson, but I think Torii took it to another level every day. He took that role and ran with it. Hopefully somebody can fill those shoes, but it will be pretty tough."

Even in the first week of spring training, the clubhouse was noticeably different to Mark Trumbo.

"It's definitely quieter here without him," he said. "He brought a lot to the table. There's no doubt about that. He was genuine."

Hunter was particularly important in the development of the young players who came up under his watch, and his impact was perhaps most noticeable on Mike Trout. After Hunter signed with the Tigers, Trout's mother publicly tweeted a thank you to Hunter.

"We definitely miss him," Trout said. "You can't really replace him. He's one of those guys that brings life to the clubhouse. He's an awesome guy to hang out with."

While clubhouse chemistry and leadership are sometimes thought to be overrated, or just a media creation, talking to the Angels leaves little doubt they feel the need for chemistry. And they'll have to look to new people to help foster it.

"Anytime you lose someone of that character and leadership, it changes the dynamic," Chris Iannetta said. "But it gives other guys the opportunity to step up and be a leader. Someone always emerges to be that guy. I'm curious to see who it will be this year. It might be someone who surprises you."

One of the players who looks like an early candidate is Josh Hamilton. The Angels picked up Hamilton for his on-field tools, but he also seems to have a more outgoing personality than Albert Pujols, Trout or Weaver, the team's other star players.

"He's been through more than anyone in this clubhouse and most guys in baseball have gone through," Vernon Wells said of Hamilton. "With everything he's been through, you can still give him a hard time about different things. It makes it comfortable for guys around him. I've known Josh for a while, but for outsiders, they were a little cautious about what's said around him. But the more you get to know him, he's a fun-loving guy. He fits in this clubhouse perfectly."

Trumbo agreed that Hamilton has settled in nicely: "He's got a good sense of humor, which helps. He's got some pretty cool anecdotes in the meetings. Everyone sees that he's a hard-working guy, which makes a difference."

C.J. Wilson is uniquely qualified to compare the personalities of Hunter and Hamilton because he spent a year with Hunter last year in Anaheim and the four prior years with Hamilton in Texas.

Wilson said one of the most important elements for any clubhouse is humor, especially with the pressure of big league life, and the ability to lighten a mood is one of the skills that Hamilton and Hunter share.

"If we're in a meeting, Josh will say something really heartfelt and then he'll crack a joke at the end of it and everyone will laugh," Wilson said. "Josh is great in the clubhouse. He's funny. He's inspirational. He's a hard worker. He's phenomenally gifted. He is willing to engage people. He'll talk to the rookies, talk to the clubbies."

Truth be told, it's not as simple as swapping Hamilton in for Hunter as "the leader."

"There are five or six leaders on any team at any point because there are 25 guys – it's not one dude," Wilson said. "Torii was one of the leaders last year. Torii is great, but we all have to move on."

Hamilton, Pujols, Wells, Weaver, Trumbo, Trout and reliever Scott Downs were all mentioned by teammates as players who could help, in varying ways, to fill the void left by Hunter. Trumbo said some players have already "stepped up to be more vocal," and Weaver said he would try.

But the Angels may not need to fully replace what Hunter provided, because some of his impact has remained even though he's gone.

"His work here is done," Wells said. "He's moved on, but he's implanted a lot of things in the minds of some of these young guys that will help them from this day on. He did what he was supposed to do as an athlete and a person in an Angels uniform."